By CatholicVote | Created at 2025-01-10 20:22:48 | Updated at 2025-01-10 23:45:55
3 hours ago
CV NEWS FEED // After President Joe Biden on Jan. 9 promised federal relief to the victims of the Los Angeles fires, critics questioned why the victims of Helene have not been given the same relief.
Biden posted on X, “I’m announcing that the federal government will cover 100% of the cost of measures to protect lives and property in Southern California for six months.”
I'm announcing that the federal government will cover 100% of the cost of measures to protect lives and property in Southern California for six months.
I’ve told the Governor and officials to spare no expense and do whatever they need to contain the fires and protect families.
Users in the comment section were quick to point out that North Carolina was neglected by the federal government after it was devastated by Hurricane Helene.
CatholicVote previously reported that in early October, after Helene had reached a death toll of 200, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced, “FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the [hurricane] season.”
>>NORTH CAROLINA SHOP OWNERS AWAIT AID NEARLY THREE MONTHS AFTER HELENE DESTROYS HOME, BUSINESS<<
Reports indicate that North Carolina is still reeling from the effects of the storm. Matt Van Swol, a photographer from NC who has recorded the effects of Helene and posted it on X, outlined how FEMA initially refused 3,500 families an extension of their hotel vouchers Jan. 9 until the agency was pressured to extend them for another 24 hours.
These families had their homes destroyed in Helene. Many of them have young children, according to Van Swol, and a storm was expected on Jan. 10.
🚨#BREAKING: MASS PANIC is setting in across #WNC as FEMA is refusing to extend hotel vouchers for 3,500 families, with nowhere to go.
Protests have erupted in across #WNC as FEMA is kicking people out of hotels, in 14° weather, many still waiting on FEMA to inspect their homes. pic.twitter.com/8BUB6hUZwm
Later that day, the organization was pressured to extend the hotel vouchers, posting on X, “Due to the incoming winter storm we are extending our Transitional Sheltering Program stays for 24 hours to those households who are scheduled to check out of their hotels/motels Jan. 11.
“If you STILL need assistance with housing, call 1 (800) 621-3362.”
#NorthCarolina: Due to the incoming winter storm we are extending our Transitional Sheltering Program stays for 24 hours to those households who are scheduled to check out of their hotels/motels Jan. 11.
If you STILL need assistance with housing, call 1 (800) 621-3362.
Van Swol thanked his social media followers Jan. 9 for protesting FEMA’s negligence, writing, “All 3,500 of those #WNC parents and kids living in those hotels tonight would have been kicked out tomorrow morning by FEMA without all of your voices on X.”
All 3,500 of those #WNC parents and kids living in those hotels tonight would have been kicked out tomorrow morning by FEMA without all of your voices on X.
You can take that to the bank.
CatholicVote recently reported that North Carolina residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed by the storm were still required to pay full property taxes on their homes by Jan. 6.
